Valve



da @Y @gew ' Jan. 22,1946. J l YELLOTT ET Al.

' VALVE Flled July 25 V1942 Patented Jan. 272, 1946 UNITED STATES i ePer111W g Felici:

'John I. Yeufdttjitbijeit A. 'Ac'kleygfand Albert J." A Rosenberger, Chicago, Ill., assignors to' Republic Flow Meters, Coi'pany, Chicago, Ill. a corpora'- tion oflllllin'osvticularly to a'valve constructionk inV which vibration,'either audible or inaudible, iseliminated.A It has been found that valves, such for example,

' pressure reducingor throttling valves, eitherl of the single or multiple 'port type,V tend t'o .set up internal vibrations during use. `This is particularly pronounced in'the'case ofextremely high pressure valves used with compressibleV fluids such as steam.l Insome instances Ythese Vibrations fall within theiV audible range.. and cause objectionablewhistling while in other Vcases 4they. may fall within theinaudible. range but are still objectionable since'theymay. cause wear f We have determined thatl `one of the causes of 'such vibrations'is the-streamI of flowing fluid :vibrating or changing its direction vof ow in free space Vwithin the valve body.r The stream alone, flowing in freespace, does not :tendto f set up objectionable vibrationsfof itself,v but is caused to vibrate byrefiected .wavesorshock Ywaves acting directly on the 'vstream or onv the orice from which the stream issues.V If the stream vibrates of itself, las exemplied bythe. Aordinarystandingv wave, this. is not objectionabler in the absence' of a resonant condition, but where lateralvibrations or changes in'directiony ofthe objectionable. .o A 1 l 'According to the present invention, we'have stream inV free spacesoccur, they are normally determinedthat objectionable vibrations,;both-of ,audible and-inaudibletype, can be eliminated by directing the stream in such a way that itdoes notY flow through ka free` space so that itcannot i set up such vibrations.4 lThis canbe accomplished by constraining the stream on at least one side so as to make it flow in contact with a solid wall. In this Yway lateral vibration of thestream is prevented.

VA'Ihe stream can beso vconinedby causing-it to follow either theY valvestem orthe seat-structure but We have found'that it is preferable for thestream to followthevalve ystem from the drical beyond the seat or can are out and Twe have found Y that .a slight inward l.taper not suiii- .cientlyl'greatfy to cause breaking' awayof :the

yobtained,dbyzecurving thestem tornare, the ow graduallyaway from'it vso as; notfto strike: any obstructions or projections on Ythe valve body.

Another very important object of the inven.

tion is to provide alvalve inv whichthe. fluidv is properly expanded inithe 4`iovv passage through the seat. We have found that underexpansionis very harmful, causing a fiaring flow andcreating shock waves-'tending to throw the stream away from the istem. Excessive yoverexpansiondnay tend to cause split fiowand vflutterbut unlessvthe stream is greatly V,overexpanded'smooth `stream flow canbeobtained. We, therefore, provide a small seating angle between the stem and the seat limiting the anglelof divergence of the Aiovv passage to prevent'excessive overexpansion while maintaining a jsuiiicient angle andseat length to insurefcomplete expansion of `the vfl uic l at maximum valve opening. y s A M A Another important feature tofbe observedpis the elimination of resonant spaces acrossA or along which 'the Stream mustV 110W.- The most com: monof, Such. Smeer), 'is found in the form Qf an annulus around thevalvestemfacross the mouth @which me streamflows.` This, annulus tends to create a free space andenables the stream to set up objectionable vibrations.. H Y l A) yrcse'nce ofl such ank annulus is not in all cases objectionable, andvwe have found further'that when ,the stream leaves the valve stem at a relatively sharp leaving edge spacedgfrom the valve'throat a distance equal to at least five times the width of the throatY in the valve seat and is not compelled to flow across a facing edge, vibration does not occur. l'

- owever, th mer edges'at points where it is desired that the stream shall leave a'constrainingswalh 'Since it is gener- Jallydesired that the lflow shall Yiollowthe valve stem 'this means that the valve seatjshould be V providedjwith a relatively sharp edge at its outlet y tend to follow ,around the seat.

nvalv'e 'embodyingtlielinvention side so that the stream will breakaway'andnot The above and other objects, advrntages, and desirable features of the yinvention' willbe better understood from the' following descriptionl when read in'vconnectionv ywith the accompanying Vdrawiaround the head but will tend to curve into the stem at a distance from the head. This creates a dead space around the stem adjacent the head and enables the stream to vibra-te laterally to set up objectionable vibrations.

One possible explanation of such vibration is that pressure tends to build up in the dead space until it forces the stream outwardly from :the valve stem. As soon as this happens the vvpressure is relieved and the stream tends to move back. It vmay Yalso be that the space acts as .a resonant space. In .any event we have found that with a construction of this kind vvibrations occur. In some `cases these vibrations may be in the audible range to produce whistling or shrieking while in other cases .they may :be inaudible but are still objectionable since they produce physical vibration .of the valve parts .or heating thereof.

Another source of vibrations arises from .the fact that a portion of the iiow stream tends to follow around the valve seat and along a wall of the valve body in cases where va rounded seat is used. This portion of the stream cannot stay in contact with the wall since its expansion cannot be rapid enoughl It therefore tends to spread .out in free space within the Yvalve Vbody and can vibrate laterally without constraint. In some cases we have found that the stream will jump back and forth from a position adjacent the valve stem to a position adjacent the seat in which case a very objectionable vibration is set up.

Figure lillustrates one valve construction einbodying the invention which will eliminate objectionable vibration and which comprises a valve body I having an inner closed wall II communi eating with the valve inlet passage I2.V The wall yI I provides two spaced wall portions formed `with an outer valve seat I3 andan inner valve seat I4 through which a valve stem I5 extends. At the lower end of the body the valve stem is lof full diameter as shown at I6 and slidably ts into the body. At its upper end the-valve stem terminates in areduced portion 4I 'I slidably extending through the body.

The valve stem I5 is formed with two ,enlarged portions I8 and I3 cooperating respectively Wth the valve seats I3 and I4.. AS Shown, the upper enlarged portion I8 has a tapered seat portion 2| and extends upwardly therefrom atfull diameter into cylindrical cavity y22 in the valve body. The cavity 22 terminates in a `flared skirt 23 iitting around the enlarged portion .I8 and terminating in a relatively narrow edge. facing toward rthe,

relatively smooth continuous wall along which the stream may iioW.

In operation of this valve, fluid entering through the passage I2 simultaneously iiows through the seats I3 and I4 around the enlarged portions on the valve stem. At the upper end the iiuid ows along the stem I8 until it strikes the narrow edge of the dared .skirt 23 which directs it away from the stem into the main cavity of the valve body. It will be noted that this is a smooth continuous flow so that the lstream is kept confined on one side at all times and is given no opportunity to vibrate or iiutter in free space.

'At `.the flower end, fluid iiowing through the converging valve seat I4 tends to iiow inwardly along the stem and will be directed around the curved portion124 .outwardly away from the stem in a smooth continuous path. This fluid is likewiseconiined on one side at all times and is given no ,opportunity to Hutter or vibrate in free space. ud 4entering the ,main portion .oi the valve body through y.the seats hows outwardly therefrom through an outlet passage 2S without creating any objectionable vibrations.

,Figure v,2 illustrates .an alternative .construction ofthe inner or .small tend of thevalve inciuding Aa wall portion 27 formed with a .valve seat 28 through which a valve stem 2 3 passes. The stem s29-is formed with an `enlargedportion 3I shaped to seat against .the seat 28 and terminatingbeyond the ,seat in a lsi-:ir.t...32 ytapered :inwardly and then :flared outwardly.l The `valve stem 4termi hates :in a reduced portion 33 slidably extending through a :boss v34cm ya valve casing 3.5..

It will :be :noted that the `outlet :edge iofV the skirt portion 32 :is Jof ;a.sslightly larger .diameter than the boss 34 so :that fluid leavingthe skirt portion will not strike theupper `edge `of .the .-boss. We .have :found that where liuid strikes `an edge of this character.` vibrations are very apt to'occur but with :this construction the iiuid ows in a smooth quiet stream.

Still another `inner end Lconstruction is illustrated in Figure 3 as comprising wall portion 3.6. formed with a seat 31 .through .which .a valve stem .38 extendsf The valve stem 38' is formed with an enlarged portion' 39 adapted to seat against the seat 31 and terminating beyond Ythe seat in a converging'cone 4I connected toa reduced stem 42. The stem 42 is slidablysupported in a tapered skirt 43 formed Lon a valve body 44 and `terminates in .-a relative sharp edge adjacent the lower edge of the yconical portion 4I. In this construction fluid flowing through :the seat will follow inwardly along vconical por tion 4I and will be .directed outwardly by the ski-rt 43 in a smooth continuous path, thus no vibrations will be set up in .the stream. Y

Figure 4 illustrates in detail the construction of the seat and valve stem at the outer or large end of .the valve. As shown in this-figure the enlarged portion 'IB .above the seating part 2| is connected thereto by a radius to provide a smooth flow path and extends above the seating portion asa straight cylinder. `The seat `I3 lies at an acute angle to the valve stem to provide between the seatand the upper cylindrical portion IB a diverging flow passage '45 diverging from a narrow :throat 46 Abetween the seat lt'and th seating portion 2l` of the valve stem., l

We have `foundthzalt the angle .45 is quite critical since an excessiveA angie wiil cause the iiuid to be excessively overexpandeduat sub.- stantially. ,ailvalve 4umanintswhile anV angle'which ingv and will permit aA wide range of valve moven ment without causing excessive over-expansion of fluid in theseat. Since any under-expansion in the seat' is undesirable while a relatively small degreev erover-expansion does not create .any

difficulties, iwe so design the va1veboth as'tofangIe `andas Vto seat length to provide for substantially complete" expansion of the fluid by the time it leavestheseatat maximum'valve opening.` Thus for all? openings less than maximum a slightoverexpansion 'is created but if the angle at'45' is -2i) degrees orless, the over-'expansion does not become'excessive although with angles exceeding 20 'degrees Yexcessive over-expansion at smalli valve openingswould be very apt to occur.

y The vflow passage through the valveseat' at the small or inner end of the valve lis similarly designedY although in this case we have found that somewhat greater angles will give satisfactory operation. Our tests have indicated that at the small end of the valve seating angles upto 25 degrees will function satisfactorily. VThis is probably due to the greater tendency of the fluid to flow along the stem so that a greater degree of over-expansion is permissible without causing the ow to split or flutter in the seat.

Another feature of the valve seat common to both the outer and inner ends is that the edge of the seat at the point where the fluid leaves it -should be relative sharp asindicated at 31. VWe

have found that fluid will break away more readily from a sharp or clean edge than from a rounded or smooth edge. Since it is desired that the fluid shall leave the seat and follow the stem it is advantageous to provide aY sharp leaving edge as shown at 4l at the outlet side of the seat. 'Iheinlet side of the seat may be made either sharp or rounded as shown.

An alternative construction of the outer end of the valve is illustrated in Figure 5 which shows Ya body part 48 formed with a valve seat 453 through which a stem 5| extends. The stem 5I is cylindrical above the valve seat and passes Y slidably through a casing part 52. The stem has a. conical -tapered portion 53 providing a seating part within the seat and terminating in a stem or rod 54 below the conical part.

In this construction a flow passage through the seat as illustrated in Figure 4 is provided so that the iluidv stream will be properly expanded and will flow along the stem 5I until it strikes and is turned out by .the casing 52. We have found that a valve of this type will operate satisfactorily to provide smooth flow Without objectionable vibration.

Still another alternative construction for the outer end of the valve is illustrated in Figure 6 including a casing part 55 formed with a valve seat 56. An enlarged valve member 5l lies within the seat and is formed with a seating portion above which is a flaring skirt erstem part 58, extending above the throat of the flow passage throughthe seat for a distance of at least ten times the throat width at maximum opening. A reduced stem 59 is connected to the enlarged valve part 51 and extends yslid'ably through a. casing part 6l.

In operation of this valve .the seat angle is so related tolthe flaringsurface 58 as to provide properexpansionof the fluid in. the flow passage inthe seat. ff Thus the fluid stream willr follow smoothly alongthe flaring skirt 58l and will 'leave it Lat its 'upperv edge which is preferably a" sharp edge. Wehave-found tha-tea construction of.

this typewill provide smooth now and? willnot create objectionable vibrations. The heightof the skirt isquite important in a construction of thisl character sincewe have found that with shorter skirts whistling occurs at various ranges .-ofvalveoperat'ion; However, #when the skirt ris.

made VVtoextendat yleast tengtimes the maximum lthroat"V opening above the throat thev flow is smooth and objectionable 'vibrations are not setup.

' This Vapplicationis a continuation-impart of n our prior f coper'iding application, Serialf'No v350,190 ledfAugust 3, v1940;V t

While several embodiments offthev invention have been yshown and described in detailit Ywill be" understood that they vare for the purpose of illustration only and are not to be taken as a definition ofthe scope'of the invention, reference 9,05- Y. .What .islamede l Y *"1.' In "valve construction for controlling the fibwof fluid without vibration, the combination of an annular valve seat through which the fluid is adapted to flow, a valve stem extending through said seat andr including a portion lying adjacent the seat and/forming therewith an annular flow passage diverging at an angle ynot greater than 20, the valve stem including a part extending beyond the throat of the -flow passage for a distance equal to at least ve times the width of the throat of the flow passage at maximum openingand slidably extending into a valve casing, said part being of such a size and contour as to provide for smooth ow of fluid therealong without any annular spaces over which the fluid must ow and without anyY sharp convex portions which would direct the fluid away from the part. a

2. In a valve construction for controlling the flow of fluid without vibration, the combination of an annular valve seat through which the fluid is adapted to flow, a valve stem extending, through said seat and including la, portion lying adjacent verging flow passage, the valve stem including a part extending beyond the throat of the flow passage for a distance equal to at least five times the width ofthe throat of the flow passage at maximum opening, said part flaring outwardly from the seat in the direction of fluid ow and terminating in a sharp leaving edge.

3. In a valve construction for controlling the ow of fluid without vibration, the combination of an annular valve seat throughwhich the fluid is adapted to flow, a valve stem extendingA through said seat and including a portion lyingadjacent the seat and forming therewith an annular flow passage diverging at an angle not greater than `20?, the Valve stem including a part extending beyond the throat of the flow passage for a distance equal to at least live times the width of the throat of the ow passage at maximum opening, said part flaring outwardly from the seat in the direction of iluid flow and terminating in a sharp leaving edge.

4. In a valve construction for controlling the :dow of fluid without vibration, the combination of an annular valve seat through which the fluid is adapted to new, said valve :seat being generally yconical and terminating at its outlet in a relatively :sharp leaving ledge, a valve .stem extending through said :seat :and including a vnortion cooperating with the vseat ato dene an annular ,110W passage, and 4a body portion .having an annular lskirt .-slidably ,surrounding the -va'lvestem and terminating in .arelat-ively narrow edge ,facing said flow passage.

5.. In a valve construction, the combination of an annular Valve seat through which .duid is adapted to lflow, said valve seat being generally conical and converging in the direction of iow,l a valvestem extending thronghfsaidseat andhaving lan enlarged portion cooperating therewith to dene an annular .ow passage diver/ging .the direction of ow at an angle not in excess of-25, the valve :stem at the outlet :side vof .the seat converging for a. relatively short .distance `and then flaring outwardly to direct fluid tlowing alongvthe stem outwardly therefrom.

6. In a valve construction, the Vcombination -of an annular valve seat through which `fluid .is adapted to oW, said valve seat being generally conical and converging in the .direction of dow, Ka valve ,stem extending Y,through 4said seat and haying an enlarged portion cooperating therewith `to dene an annular flow passage, the Valve ste-m at the outlet .side of theseat `converging to a reduced stem, kand a naive body noi-.tion having .an ,annular flaring skirt .siidabiy surrounding the stem :and terminating ina relativelynarmw edge lfacing .the 4dirne passage. v

a valve construction for .controlling the 110W` ,of uid Without vibration,A the combination or an annular valve :seat through which the huid is .adapted to noma valvestemfextending through ysaid. .seat l and including a portion lyingA adjacent ythe :seat and forming l,therewith an annular lio-w passage ydiverging at an angle not greater than 20, :the Aseat being of such length that the huid -iiorwing therethrough will be fully expanded :by the time it leaves the seat when the valve isin lits open position, the .sea-t termi-natingat its y.ouftleil yside ineI sharp leaving edge .so that the flu-id will break away from ,it cleanly, vthe weine Astem including a part .extending beyond the :throat yni the yiiow passage fora .distanceequal to .at least live times the wid-th of the throat of the new passage at maximum Aopening .said Apart being cf .such a size and .con-tour .as to provide for smooth flow fof iii-uid therealong Witl'iout any an nula-r spaces over which .the uid must now and without any sharp lconvex portions which might cause the uid to break away from the' JOHN I..

ROBERT A. ACKLEY.

.ALBERT J. ROSENBERGER. 

